GLOSSARY
A
Working Glossary for the Use of Students of Theosophical Literature
Compiled
by William Quan Judge, a pioneering Theosophist and
co-founder
of the original Theosophical Society, founded in New York in 1875
Working
Glossary Appendix
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William Quan Judge
1851 - 1896
A
Working Glossary
for the Use of Students of
Theosophical Literature
Compiled by
William
Quan Judge
ABHIDHARMA, the third division of the "Tripitaka" or
Buddhist canon. It contains the philosophical dissertations and metaphysics of
the Buddhists, and from it the Mahayana and Hinayana schools got their
fundamental doctrines.
ABSOLUTE, anything of which it can be predicated that it is
"not relative". In pure metaphysics that which exists independent of
any other cause; unconditioned. Hence the same as Parabrahmam, or the
"unknowable". That state or condition into which it is said the manifested
universe disappears upon the great Pralaya. Said to be, by some, the
combination of Spirit and Matter.
ADAM, the first man in the Hebraic system. The word really means Man and not a man.
ADAM KADMON, in the Kabalah, the Heavenly Man; Humanity in its ideal
form, for Adam Kadmon is said to stand with his head in heaven and his feet on
earth.
ADIBUDDHA, the first or supreme Buddha. Buddha in reality is not
a person, but a principle incarnating in different so-called Buddhas.
AEONS, periods of time of such duration as to be
incomprehensible; also celestial beings.
AETHER, same as Ether. The great luminiferous
substance throughout the whole universe. Astral
Light, Akasa, and the like are forms of
Aether.
AHURA-MAZDA, the divine principle with the Parsees.
AIN-SOPH, from the Kabalah; the boundless, the expanding Deity.
It is also written En-Soph.
AJNANA, ignorance, or not-knowledge. (See Ajnyana, the word is the same.)
ALAYA, in addition to meaning already given it, may be rendered
Universal Soul.
ALKORAN, same as Koran, which see.
AMENTI, in the Egyptian system the dwelling of the God Amon; the
same as Hades of the Greeks. In fact the state
of man after death, as it was divided into various parts corresponding to the
possible various conditions of the soul after death of the body.
ANTARATMA, mind, the human soul.
ANTARYAMIN, that which is latent in all; a title of Ishwara.
ANTASKARANA, the same as antakarana.
ANU, on p. 4 of Glossary
should be atom, and also, one of the names of
Brahma.
ASHWATTHA, same as asvatha.
ATLANTIS, a former continent which was submerged long ago during
the cataclysms which overtook other races. A part of it was on the Atlantic
floor, and hence the name of that ocean as well as Mount Atlas. But it included
much more, and probably the Americas among other lands.
ATMAN, the same as Atma, which see.
AUM, the same as Om, which see.
AVARANA-SAKTI, centripetal force or power.
AVITCHI, a state of the soul. The place or time for this state
is not always after death, for it may be in life and on this very earth. It is
called "the last of the eight hells", and is commonly thought of as a
state after death of the body.
BHIKSHUS, religious mendicants, or mendicant scholars among the
Buddhists. There are two sorts, those who control themselves by religion and
those who control themselves by the nature of their foods. At one time they
were supposed to be wonder-workers.
BHUMI, the earth. See also Bhuh.
BINAH (Heb.), understanding. The third of the ten
Sephiroth of the Kabalah. The third of the supernal triad. A female potency.
BLACK MACIC, sorcery, necromancy, calling back of the dead,
selfish use of occult power of any sort. For instance, the use of hypnotism,
magnetism, mesmerism, or the like for any purpose for one's own ends, whether
those ends be apparently good or evil, partakes of the nature of black magic.
The development of telepathic suggestion will lead to black magic, inasmuch as
it can be used for the personal ends of the operator.
BOOK OF THE DEAD, an Egyptian ritualistic work found on mummies,
and parts of which are given in Egyptian paintings. It represents in great part
the supposed trial of the soul after the death of the body, and in fact refers
to the imperishable records of a man's life in the Astral Light, and the
effects in nature of his thoughts and acts, by all of which he is self-judged.
BRAHMA VACH, the speech of Brahma, and hence Brahma male and
female.
BRAHMA VIDYA, the knowledge of or about Brahman; true knowledge
-- not literally, but in the sense that if of Brahman it must be true.
BRAHMA VIRAJ, almost the same as Brahma Vach; it is Brahman differentiated
into material unintelligent nature and into spiritual intelligent nature.
BROTHERS OF THE SHADOW, the opposite of the Adepts of the white or
unselfish school. Those of the shadow include all black magicians, sorcerers,
and others who intelligently abuse occult powers for selfish ends. They are not
only living in bodies, but are also still undestroyed or not yet disintegrated
shades of former living beings who were magicians of the black school. See also Dugpa and Gyalukpa.
BUDDHI, the sixth "principle" of man's sevenfold
constitution.
CAUSAL BODY, the principle Buddhi in conjunction with Manas, as it thus is the cause for
incarnation through its connection with spirit above and matter below. In this sense it is soul,
thus with the other two bringing out the classification of body, soul, spirit.
CHESED (Heb.), mercy. The fourth of the ten
Sephiroth of the Kabalah. A masculine potency, sometimes called Gedulah.
CHOCKMAH (Heb.), wisdom. The second of the ten
Sephiroth in the Kabalah. The second of the supernal triad. A masculine
potency.
CHOHAN, Lord and Master. Spiritual beings. See Secret Doctrine for fuller explanations.
CODEX NAZARAEUS, the Codex of the Nazarenes; the Book of
Adam. See Norberg's Codex
Nazaraeus.
CYCLE, a ring or turn, from the Greek Kuklos; more properly a spiral; a day
and night are a cycle; a year is another. The returning again of any time or
any impression. The subject of cycles is of the greatest importance, as it
includes all history and all evolution. The best known large cycle is the sidereal, a little over 25,000 years.
DANA, true charity.
DAY OF BRAHMA, the great period during which universal
manifestation lasts. A space of time said to include 2,160,000,000 years, or 14
Manvantaras. SeeYuga.
DESATIR, an ancient Persian book containing the books of the
various prophets. It is full of mysticism and not clear to the modern mind.
DEVAGANA, a troop of Gods or celestial beings possessing much
wisdom, for they are presided over by Indra, chief of the Gods.
DEVAGANESHWARA, an epithet of Indra, because he is lord of a
collection or troop of Gods.
DHARMAKAYA, the "glorified spiritual body" developed
by every Buddha; the body of the law, not as a collection of laws but as a body
or vehicle obtained by practice of the precepts through countless incarnations.
DOPPELGANGER, the double which goes; the same as astral body when that wanders from the physical;
synonymous with wraith or apparition or forerunner.
DOUBLE, the same as Doppelganger, or the astral body detached
from the physical.
DWELLER ON THE THRESHOLD, found in Lytton's Zanoni; the shades of defunct bad men in Kamaloka, full of evil, able to do evil,
and with a kind of intelligence not easily explained; also the combined evil
thoughts of the race and family to which every one belongs, and said to become,
as it were, visible when one passes the threshold of ordinary experience.
DWIJADRUSHTA, the inner vision.
DWIPA, the same as Dvipa. There are said to be seven Dwipas, and
these are the great divisions of the world as given in the allegories of the
Puranas. There names are: Jambu, Plaksha, Shalmali, Kusha, Krauncha, Shaka, and Pushkara. An explanation of these
allegorical divisions will be found in THE PATH for April and May, 1889.
EIGHT SUPERHUMAN FACULTIES. These are given under Vibhuti, which see.
ELOHIM, one of the names occurring in Genesis, which have been
rendered in the Christian bible as God and Lord; but the Hebrews had a
different meaning, and the word may be translated as plural.
ENS, being, existence, essence. With the alchemists the
recondite part of a substance from which all its qualities flow. The real
Presence in Nature of the Greeks.
EN-SOPH, the same as Ain-Soph, which see.
ETHER, in physics
and astronomy a hypothetical
medium of extreme tenuity universally diffused throughout all space, and which
is supposed to be the medium for the transmission of sound and light, and in a
sense the basis of form. It corresponds almost exactly to the Astral Light of
the Kabalist, which is an aspect of the Akasa. There are differences between
the two, however. It should not be confounded with the Ether of the ancients,
which might be said to be the same as the Akasa itself, whereas Ether is only
an aspect of that.
ESOTERIC, hidden, secret, within. From the Greek
"Esoterikos". The term was first applied to the private instructions
and doctrines of Pythagoras, taught only to a select number of his pupils and
not intended or designed for the general outer body. Opposed to exoteric or public.
EXOTERIC, public, unconcealed. The opposite of esoteric, which see.
GEBURAH (Heb.), power. The fifth of the ten
Sephiroth of the Kabalah. A female potency.
GEDULAH (Heb.), same as Chesed.
GELUKPA, the same as Gyalugpa. Literally, the "yellow
caps", from their wearing such color. They are a sect in Tibet, the
opposite of Dugpas who wear red caps. Gelukpas are
white magicians and Dugpas black.
GNOSIS, "knowledge". The term used in the earlier
Western mystical systems to denote the final wisdom to be achieved. The same as
the Gupta Vidya of the Hindus.
GNOSTICS, philosophers of the first, second, and third century
who followed the Gnosis (knowledge) and taught a doctrine
almost identical with present-day Theosophy.
GUARDIAN WALL, the metaphorical wall of protection created
around mankind by the accumulated efforts of all the hosts of Saints, Adepts,
Narjols, and Nirmanakayas, to save it from falling lower in the scale than it
already is, and to shield it from yet more terrible evils than are at present
its lot.
GUNASAMYA, the state in which the qualities -- gunas -- are in
equilibrium.
HANUMAN, the "monkey god".
HARPOCRATES, the "god of Silence and Mystery" in Egyptian
mythology. He is represented with a finger on his mouth, and is either
standing, or sitting on a Lotus. An aspect of Horus, the child of Isis and
Osiris.
HERMES TRISMEGISTUS, the "founder" of the Hermetic
philosophy. A purely mythical personage, whose name has been appropriated by
many of the Greek Alchemists. The same as the Egyptian god Thoth, the celestial
scribe, who records the thoughts and words of all men, and on whose tablets are
to be found the mysteries of the ages.
HIGHER EGO, Buddhi-Manas. The spiritual part of the human
ego. The god within us, or our "Father in Heaven."
HIGHER SELF, Atma. The spiritual essence in man. The supreme
Soul, the divine Monad, overshadowing the human Ego.
HOD (Heb.), splendor. The eighth of the ten Sephiroth
of the Kabalah. A female potency.
HORUS, the son of Osiris and Isis, the Father and Mother, or
spiritual and material aspects of Being, in Egyptian mysticism. Therefore he is
the fount of life, the germ, the "mystic child of the ark"; that out
of which the whole universe grows or becomes.
HYPERBOREAN, the regions round the North Pole comprised within
the Arctic Circle. The land of the Second Race.
ILDA BAOTH, the son of Darkness and god of our material (fourth)
globe according to the Gnostic teaching in the Codex Nazaraeus.
INCARNATION, the descent into matter, or contacting of the Soul
with physical existence.
INCUBUS, the male Elemental called into existence by sexual
passion and lust. The female is called the Succubus.
INDIVIDUALITY, the permanent principle in man. A name applied by
Theosophists to the Higher Ego, in contradistinction to the lower, transitory
element, the "personality". (See Higher
Ego.)
INITIATE, one who has passed through an Initiation; especially,
one who has passed the seventh or final Initiation on this planet.
INITIATION, the ceremony of introducing to fresh knowledge
concerning anything. Applied to the rite of admission into the sacred
mysteries.
ISIS, the mystic "Mother" of Nature in Egyptian lore.
The "woman clothed with the sun".
ISITA, one of the eight superhuman faculties. The power to
exercise supreme dominion. See Vibhuti.
JEHOVAH, literally Male-Female. The god of procreation, or
sex-god. The tribal-god of the Jews -- now worshipped by Christians as the
"Most High".
JESOD (Heb.), foundation. The ninth of the ten
Sephiroth of the Kabalah. A masculine potency.
KADMON, see Adam
Kadmon.
KAMALOKA, sometimes written Kama
Loka and Kama -Loca. Literally,
the place, world, or sphere of desire, from Kama, desire, and loka, place, world, or sphere. That
place where the body of passions and desires holds sway after the death of the
physical body. It is the same as the Greek Hades and Egyptian Amenti,where the astral shades of
the dead remain until they disintegrate or fade out. As the earthly plane is
where the material body disintegrates, so Kamaloka is that one wherein the astral
body in its turn dies and fades away. Kamaloka is much the same as the purgatory
of the Christians, and in it remain the bodies of the dead infused with the
desires and passions, for which reason is the term Kamarupa. The disincarnated Ego sheds its
astral body in Kamaloka, and from that state passes toDevachan; hence the state is intermediate
between earth-life and the joys of the Devachanic state.
KAMA-MANAS, a compound term used in Theosophical literature to
designate the state of mind or manas when closely associated with Kama, or desire; it may therefore be
said to be lower manas, as it is mind directed by, and functioning in, desire
to a greater extent than in and by -Buddhi.
KAMAVASAYITA, one of the eight superhuman faculties. The power
to suppress all desire. See Vibhuti.
KASHI, the same as Casi
and Kasi.
KAURAVAS, the same as Kuravas.
KETHER (Heb.), the Crown. The highest of the ten
Sephirroth, the emanations of Deity in the Hebrew Kabalah. The first of the
supernal Triad.
KLESHA, lit. "misery". Cleaving to existence; love of
life; Kama.
KORAN, the sacred Scriptures of the Mussalmans -- Mohamedans --
containing their moral and religious code; revealed to Mohamet.
KOSHA, the same as Kosa,
which see.
KOUNBOUM, a sacred Tree of Thibet, on whose leaves and bark are
said to be imprinted innumerable religious sentences in sacred characters, each
leaf containing a distinct word or sentence. The tree is said to have grown out
of the hair of the Lama Tson-ka-pa, who was buried under the soil on which it
flourishes.
KURUS, the enemies of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata. The Kurus represent the lower material elements
in our nature: the Pandavas the higher. The war which is
carried on between these on the plane of Kurukshetra
represents the struggle Man has to make in order to gain control over his
lower nature.
KWAN-SHAI-YIN, the manifested spiritual side of nature in
Northern and Chinese Buddhism. The Male Logos.
KWAN-YIN, the permanent, hidden side of the manifested Universe.
The female Logos. (Chinese).
LAMA, a title properly given only to the superior priests of
Thibet; now of ten, however, applied to those of any caste. The Grand Lama is
supposed to be an incarnation of Buddha.
LAOTZE, a great Chinese philosopher; the founder of Taoism. He preceded Confucius. The
mystic doctrine of the latter (now almost universal in China) is in many ways but
the revived Taoistic belief.
LEMURIA, the name given by some writers to a continent supposed
to have existed at one time, but now hidden under the waves. The Secret Doctrine affirms its previous existence and
holds that it extended between India and Africa. The land of the Third Race.
LHAMAYIN, an order of Elementals. (Thibetan).
LIPIKAS, the celestial scribes; the recorders of every thought,
act, and word of man. Collectively, the "Book of the Recording Angel".
Agents of Karma in the greater sense; mentioned in
the Secret Doctrine,
LOBHA, avarice.
LOTUS, the sacred plant of oriental nations, Egypt, India, etc.
At one time a universal symbol of the Universe, and in a narrower sense of the
Earth.
LUCIFER, the planet Venus as the "Morning Star".
Lucifer is the symbol of purity and wisdom, and not of the devil; the alter-ego
and "better half " of the earth.
LUXOR, (Brotherhood of) the most secret of the mystic orders.
One of its centers is in the United States, while "its ramifications
extend widely throughout the great Republic of the West". The name is
derived from the Ancient
Lookshur in Beloochistan,
after which the Egyptian city was also named. It is in direct and intimate
relationship with the great Eastern Brotherhood.
MACROPOSOPUS, a Kabalistic term, meaning the "Great
Countenance". The Universe as a whole, or the totality of the manifested
Cosmos. The Heavenly Man. The Macrocosm.
MAGIC, the science of bringing into visible action forces
ordinarily hidden. The ancients recognized three sorts: Theurgia, or White Magic; Goetia, or Black Magic; and Natural Magic. Theurgia had to do with the
powers of the soul, the philosopher's stone, the magic which makes of man a
God. Goetia was sorcery, or the communication with the regents of the invisible
worlds with evil intent. Natural Magic had dealings entirely with nature, and
might be either Black or White according as the Adept whose will called it into
action was of the Left- or Right-hand path. The physician who heals with the
use of his drugs is as much a natural magician as the necromancer who
effects cures by his thaumaturgy; with the difference, however, that the one
can give no reason for the effects he produces, while the other can.
MAHA, (Sans.) great.
MAHABHARATA, a great epic poem of India. The "Great
war". In it occur the two celebrated poems, the Bhagavad-Gita and the Ramayana. Probably the oldest poem
extant.
MAHA-BUDDHI, mahat. The great intelligence of the Universe;
Cosmic Ideation.
MAHA CHOHAN, the "great Chohan". The head of a
spiritual Hierarchy. On this planet the head of the trans-Himalayan School of
Adepts.
MANASA DHYANIS, the Agnishwatta Pitris: those who incarnated in
man at the close of the Third Race and gave him mind, thereby making him a rational
being.
MAHA-MANVANTARA, the great manvantara, or period of universal
activity. Said to include 311,040,000,000,000 years, or a Maha-Kalpa.
MAHA PRALAYA, a great pralaya, or period of universal rest and
dissolution. The "Night of Brahma".
MAHARAJA, "Great King". The four Maharajas are the four Karmic deities said
to be at the four cardinal points to watch mankind.
MAHA-SUSHUPTI, the great dreamless sleep of all, signifying
pralaya or dissolution, for at the great pralaya everything goes into a state
which for us can only be rendered as dreamless sleep.
MALKUTH, (Heb.), the kingdom. The tenth of the ten
Sephiroth. A female potency. The "Inferior Mother"; the earth.
MANAS TAIJASI, "Manas radiant"; Manas illumined by the light of Buddhi; the Ego in conjunction with
spirit.
MANTRIKA SAKTI; in Glos.
this is improperly put matrikas.
MATERIALIZATION, a term used among spiritualists to designate
the supposed appearance objectively and tangibly at a seance, of a spirit. Materializations,
however, are not such as spiritualists claim. They are brought about --
according to the "spirits" themselves in agreement with occult
philosophy -- by a combination of magnetic and electric forces and material
with pictures from the astral light wherein all pictures forever are. A
framework, skeleton form, or flat surface of magnetic and electric matter is
first constructed which is perfectly transparent like glass but also tangible,
and upon it is reflected the image desired to be seen, whereupon the onlookers
think they see a once incarnated spirit. It is the greatest of illusions, and,
on the astral plane, is, in the opinion of occultism, nothing more than a
"pepper's ghost". That these images speak does not add to proofs of
identification, because all such things may be psychologically imitated, and an impression of speech may be produced upon
every one who views the phenomenon. But it does happen, sometimes, that one
among the onlookers may not hear the speech the others think they hear. A
medium is absolutely necessary for a materialization to occur, unless it is
brought about by an Adept.
METEMPSYCHOSIS. While this means transmigration it should be
applied only to animals, so as to distinguish it from Reincarnation, now applied to the reembodiment
of the soul in human bodies. For many years European encyclopcedias have given
the meaning as "passing after death into the body of some animal",
and thus misunderstood the doctrine of the passing from one human body into
another. Yet it has been often used to describe rebirth in human form. Herder
has "Dialogues on Metempsychosis", devoted to the doctrine of human
rebirth. There is not the slightest doubt that the doctrine of passing into an
animal form can be found in both Buddhism and Brahmanism. It doubtless arose
from the theory, which has great authority behind it, that the physical atoms
will pass, after death and the flight of the soul, into animal forms if the
life of the man has been low and animal-like; for, every atom in the body is
impressed with the actual character of the person; and further it was taught
that a man having thus misused the atoms in his charge during life, would reap
bad karma; from this arose the doctrine, with the vulgar, that men's souls
passed into animal forms of different kinds as penalty for this, that, and the
other crime.
MICROPOSOPUS, the "Lesser Countenance", a kabalistic
term applied to any part of nature's manifestations, in
antithesis to Macroposopus which includes them all; the
Microcosm.
MORYA, the name of a Rajpoot tribe, so-called because of its
being almost altogether composed of the descendants of the famous Moryan
sovereign of Marya-Nagara. The Moryan Dynasty began with certain Kshatriyas of
the Sakya line closely related to Gautama Buddha, who founded the town of
Morya-Nagara in the Himalayas. In the Vishnu
Purana it is stated that a
king called Moru who lived during the Surya Dynasty is by his devotion and
austerities living yet, in a certain village in the Himalyas, and in a future
age he will come forth and restore the kshatriya race. "The Moryas will
possess the Earth" is said in another place; meaning that by the power of
their occult wisdom the Moryas in the future will be rulers of the earth,
occultly, or in possession of all its knowledge.
MURHA, perplexing.
MYSTERIES, the secret ceremonies which took place during the
Ancient Initiations, in which the candidates were taught the origin of things,
the nature of the soul, and shown the births of worlds and systems by dramatic
representations. They were divided into the Greater and the Lesser Mysteries.
MYSTERY-LANGUAGE, the language of the "mysteries" or
those things which cannot be told. The sacerdotal language used in discussing
sacred things.
NADI, passage, channel, method.
NEOPHYTE, a candidate or novice. One not initiated but preparing
to be admitted into the sacred mysteries.
NEO-PLATONISM, the revived Platonism of the second and third
centuries. Ammonius Saccas founded an Eclectic School of Theosopoy in
Alexandria at that period, and strove to reestablish the older oriental
philosophies and reconcile Platonic teaching with them. His followers have
since been called Neo-Platonists. Plotinus was of this school.
NETZACH, (Heb.), Victory; the seventh of the ten
Sephiroth of the Kabalah. A masculine potency.
NIDANA, a band, a rope, a halter. Theosophically, a first or
original cause; a primary or remote cause; original form or cause of a thing;
in ancient medicine of the Hindus the study of symptoms to determine remote or
primary cause of the disease was a department with sixteen divisions, one being
called nidana sthana. In metaphysics and the
psychology of occultism, a nidana is the beginning of a current
leading to acts and circumstances. It is related to another word -- nida --
which means a resting-place, a bird's-nest, a lair, a den; that is, the
resting-place for a cause or start of a current or nidana.
NIGHT OF BRAHMA, a period of non-manifestation, of the same
length as Day of Brahma, which see.
OANNES, the same as Dag
or Dagon, the "man-fish". A generic
name for the Initiates of Chaldea, corresponding to the Nagas or "Snake-Kings" of the
Buddhist legends, who are said to preserve and guard the ancient truths.
ORMAZD, (see Ahura-Mazda).
PANDU, the father of the Pandava Princes, who were the foes of
the Kurus as related in the Bhagavat-Gita.
PARAMATMAN, the Great or Supreme Spirit; beyond atman.
PARAMITAS, the seven Paramitas of perfection are: Dana, Charity; Shila, Harmony; Kshanti, Patience; Virag, the higher Indifference; Virya, Courage; Dhyana,Contemplation; Prajna, the capacity for Mahatic
perception.
PINGALA, in addition to what is given in the [[Working]]
Glossary it should be understood that the breath and its channels referred to
are not the lungs and air passages but the inner psychic breath.
PISTIS SOPHIA, a sacred Gnostic work; full of mysticism; very
obscure in its terms.
PLANE, a level surface; specifically, a field of consciousness;
as dream-plane, mental-plane, physical-plane, etc.
PLANETARY SPIRIT, the Regent of a planet; its Archangel,
Governor, Spirit or Dhyan-Chohan.
PLASTIC BODY, a name for the Linga-Sharira, or astral form. Called
"Plastic" or "Protean" because of its power to assume any
shape or form.
POSEIDONIS, (Gr.), the last remaining portion of the great
Atlantic Continent, the isle Atlantis referred to in the Critias of Plato.
PRAKAMYA, one of the eight superhuman faculties; the power to
exercise irresistible will. See
Vibhuti.
PRAPTI, one of the eight superhuman faculties. See Vibhuti for description.
PUJA, worship or adoration to idols, images or persons.
QABALLAH, this is also written Kaballah and Kabalah, which see. For a good series of
hints on the Kabala see Lucifer, vol. x, May 92, p. 185.
QUATERNARY, the four lower "principles" in man's
sevenfold constitution, to wit: Rupa, Life, Astral Body, and Kama. These four
separate and disintegrate inKama loka after
death, for when the link is broken the deserted physical body is as much in Kama loka as the others. The symbol of the Quaternary
is a square.
RACE, a division of Humanity. Occultism teaches that Mankind
arises on the Earth in seven successive classes, called races. Each of these
again divides into sub-races. The present "civilized" nations
constitute the Fifth Subrace of the Fifth Root-Race; and it is taught that
there are still extant specimens of the older races.
RAHAT, the same as Arhat
and Arahat which see.
RAMA, in Hindu mythology the seventh Avatar, or manifestation on
Earth of the Supreme. He is the hero of the Ramayana, the famous epic poem of India.
RAMAYANA, the twin epic poem of the Mahabharata; the allies of the hero (Rama)
are monkeys, which under the able generalship of Hanuman finally conquerRavana, the demon-king, and the Rakshasas, or demons and giants of Lanka
or Ceylon.
REINCARNATION, rebirth of the soul into human bodies. The oldest
belief of the world, viz.,
that the Soul or Ego of man has lived on Earth many times previously to the
present life, and will be reborn, or incarnated again, many times in the
future, before the full experience attainable on this planet has been gathered,
Not to bee confounded with transmigration however, for which it is often
mistaken. See Metempsychosis.
RING-PASS-NOT, the limit of possibility in the expansion of
consciousness or perception for Man, while he remains such. To cross its
border-line is to enter Nirvana, to become one with all and to lose the
personality. The circle is broken for all only on the great day Be-with-us, when all go into para-nirvana.
ROUND, the journey of the monad once around the seven globes
composing the Earth-chain or any other planetary chain. The word
"round" was used interchangeably with "ring", in the early
writings on the subject in Theosophical literature. It is applied generally in
respect to the Monad in human body, although it is the same for all other
kingdoms.
SAMARTHYA, to meaning already given add; the attenuation of
passion by reflection.
SAMA VEDA, one of the four Vedas of the Hindus.
SAMSKARA, literally means "impression". The name of
the initiatory rites of the Brahmans from birth through life, for they, being
all priests by birth, have various initiatory ceremonies. With us the samskaras would be the same as sacrament; for baptism or naming the child
is one samskara, the first going forth of the
child is another, shaving the head, marriage, giving up the world, and so on,
are others. A full explanation of the samskaras is given in the Oriental Department of the American Section T.S., in
Paper No. 10.
SANKHYA KARIKA, the metaphysical aphorisms of Kapila Rishi.
SAPTAPARNA, the seven-chambered cave, near Buddhagaya, where
Buddha initiated and taught his Arhats; also man,
because he has seven chambers or principles.
SATCHITANANDA, that which is all truth (sattwa), all intelligence
(chit), and all bliss (ananda). See respectively those words.
SATTWA, the same as Sattva.
SENZAR, the Mystery-language of the ancient Initiated Adepts,
known to all schools all over the world.
SEPHIROTH, the ten emanations of Deity in the Hebrew Kabalah.
They are, Kether, crown; Chokmah, wisdom; Binah, understanding; Chesed, mercy; Geburah,power; Tiphereth, beauty; Netzach, victory; Hod, splendor; Jesod, foundation; Malkuth, the kingdom.
SEPTENARY, the collection of six principles synthesized in the seventh
or Atman, and constituting man. The first four are given under Quaternary, and the remaining three under Triad. The symbol of the septenary is
a square and a triangle combined.
SHAMBHALA, the town spoken of in the Puranas where the Kalki-Avatar, the Messiah on the White Horse will appear before the end of the
Kali-Yuga or Black age. Occultists name its position as in the Himalayas.
SHAMANS, Tartar Magicians and priests, male or female, of the
ancient Bhon religion of Thibet. They are found
chiefly in Siberia.
SILA, morality.
SROTAPATTI, one who has "entered the stream" which
will bear him to the Nirvanic Ocean -- the "Shining Sea".
SUBHAVA, the same as Swabhavat, which see.
SUCCUBUS, the female Incubus, which see; a "spirit
bride".
SVABHAVAT, the "world stuff" or substance with energy.
The Spirit within substance. That which is the basis of all manifested things.
The "create uncreate".
SWAPNA, the same as Svapna.
SWARGA, the same as Svarga.
SYLPH, an elemental of the Air (Rosicrucian).
TAIJASI, illuminated, radiant. From Tejas -- Fire. See Manasa- Taijasi.
TAPASYA, asceticism, worship, devotion, silent meditation.
TETRAGRAMMATON, the four-lettered name of God with the Greeks.
THEOSOPHY, divine wisdom; the wisdom of the Gods, obtained through
the Gods, not however by revelation, but through individual aspiration and
experience.
THEURGY, divine Magic, or power to work phenomena through Divine
aid or by the aid of the "Gods", or powers of nature. See Magic.
THREAD-SOUL, see Sutratman.
TIPHERETH, (Heb.), beauty. The sixth of the ten
Sephiroth of the Kabalah. A male potency.
TRIAD, the triad consists of Atma-Buddhi-Manas, and is the reincarnating man.
It is the upper third of the Septenary;
which see. Its symbol is an equilateral triangle.
TRIBHUVANA, the words called Swarga, Bhumi, and Patala; vulgarly
heaven, earth, and hell, but in occultism the Terrestrial, Psychic, and
Spiritual spheres. See also Tri-Lokas.
TRIMURTI, the name of the Hindu trinity, of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva,
or creation, preservation, and destruction. In some old pictures the Trimurti
is shown appearing on a lotus which springs from Krishna's body.
TRIVENI, the junction of the three minor currents respectively
called Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna, called also best of all places of pilgrimage
or Tirtharaja. This is because the discovery
of these powers and currents is made by effort or pilgrimage to them, and when
the spot is found complete mastery over self becomes possible.
VALLABACHARYA, the founder of a sect of Vaishnavas. His descendants are called
Goswami Maharaj. They are said to be immoral.
VASITA, one of the eight superhuman faculties. The power to
subjugate any person or being by magic. See Vibhuti.
VEHICLE, a carriage. That through which anything expresses
itself. Thus the body is the vehicle of the soul. Same as Vahan.
VENDIDAD, one of the Nosks (works) of the Zend, the first of the fragments
collected together in that which is known as the Zend-Avesta.
VIBHUTI, great power, might, dominion, supremacy, dignity;
superhuman power, consisting of the eight faculties of anima, to become minute; laghima, extreme lightness; prapti, power to attain anything; prakamya, irresistible will; mahima, illimitable
bulk; isita, supreme dominion; vasita, subjugation by magic;kamavasayita, power to suppress all desire.
Also the name given to the ashes with which Siva besmeared himself.
VIDARSANA, the attaining, by reflection, of wisdom that
transcends the normal wisdom of the race.
VIKSHEPA-SAKTI, centrifugal force or power.
VIRAJ, the Logos; the male half of Vach.
VISHWAKARMAN, the artificer and carpenter of the Gods in the Vedas. From this has sprung the idea
of Jesus as a carpenter.
WHEEL OF SAINSARA, being reborn on earth over and over again;
reincarnation; called a wheel because we whirl about from one life to another
so long as we are overcome by desire.
WISDOM-RELIGION, the one religion which underlies all creeds,
and which is to be found hidden under the text of all holy books in all
nations.
YEAR OF BRAHMA, 360 days and 360 nights of Brahma.
3,110,400,000,000 solar years.
Is Theosophy a Religion ? By H P Blavatsky
A Textbook of Theosophy By C W Leadbeater
Outline of Theosophy By C W Leadbeater
Theosophy and the Theosophical Society
Evolution
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Theosophy and the Number Seven
A selection of articles relating to the esoteric
significance of the Number 7 in Theosophy
The Spiritual Home of Urban Theosophy
The Earth Base for Evolutionary Theosophy
Quick Explanations
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What is Theosophy ? Theosophy Defined (More Detail)
Three Fundamental Propositions Key Concepts of Theosophy
Cosmogenesis Anthropogenesis Root Races
Ascended Masters After Death States
The Seven Principles of Man Karma
Reincarnation Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott William Quan Judge
The Start of the Theosophical
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Theosophical Society Presidents
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The Three Objectives of the
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Explanation of the Theosophical
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The Theosophical Order of
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Glossaries of Theosophical Terms
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Annie
Besant
THE PHYSICAL
PLANE THE ASTRAL PLANE
KÂMALOKA THE MENTAL PLANE DEVACHAN
THE BUDDHIC AND
NIRVANIC PLANES
THE THREE KINDS OF KARMA COLLECTIVE KARMA
THE LAW OF
SACRIFICE MAN'S ASCENT
______________________
Annie Besant Visits Cardiff 1924
An Outline of Theosophy
Charles Webster Leadbeater
Theosophy - What it is How is it Known?
The Method of Observation General Principles
Advantage Gained from this
Knowledge
The Deity The Divine Scheme The Constitution of Man
The True Man Reincarnation The Wider Outlook
Death Man’s Past and Future Cause and Effect
Reincarnation
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From A Textbook
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How We Remember our Past Lives
Life after Death & Reincarnation
The
Slaughter of the
a
great demand by the public for lectures on Reincarnation
Classic Introductory Theosophy Text
A Text Book of Theosophy
By C
What Theosophy Is From the Absolute to Man
The Formation of a Solar System The Evolution of Life
The Constitution of Man After Death
Reincarnation
The Purpose of Life The Planetary Chains
The Result of Theosophical Study
The Occult World
By
Alfred Percy Sinnett
The Occult World is an treatise on the
Occult and Occult Phenomena, presented
in
readable style, by an early giant of
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Preface to the American Edition Introduction
Occultism and its Adepts The Theosophical Society
First Occult Experiences Teachings of Occult Philosophy
Later Occult Phenomena Appendix
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The Seven Principles of Man
By
Annie Besant
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A Student of
Katherine Tingley
Katherine Tingley (1847 -1929)Was the founder &
President
of the Point Loma Theosophical Society 1896 -1929
She and her students produced a series of informative
Theosophical works in the early years of the 20th century
Elementary Theosophy Who is the Man?
Body and Soul
Body, Soul and Spirit Reincarnation
Karma The Seven in Man and Nature
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Helena
Petrovna Blavatsky 1831 – 1891
The
Founder of Modern Theosophy
Index of
Articles by
By
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Blavatsky
Is the Desire to Live Selfish?
Ancient Magic in Modern Science
Precepts Compiled by H P Blavatsky
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Theosophy and the Number Seven
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Index of
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H P Blavatsky’s Secret Doctrine
Isis Unveiled by H P Blavatsky
H P Blavatsky’s Esoteric Glossary
Mahatma Letters to A P Sinnett 1 - 25
A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom
(Selection of Articles by H P Blavatsky)
The Secret Doctrine – Volume 3
A compilation of H P Blavatsky’s
writings published after her death
Esoteric Christianity or the Lesser Mysteries
The Early Teachings of The
Masters
A Collection of Fugitive Fragments
Fundamentals of the Esoteric
Philosophy
Mystical,
Philosophical, Theosophical, Historical
and Scientific
Essays Selected from "The Theosophist"
Edited by George
Robert Stow Mead
From Talks on the Path of Occultism - Vol. II
In the Twilight”
Series of Articles
The In the
Twilight” series appeared during
1898 in The
Theosophical Review and
from 1909-1913 in The Theosophist.
compiled from
information supplied by
her relatives and friends and edited by A P Sinnett
Letters and
Talks on Theosophy and the Theosophical Life
Obras
Teosoficas En Espanol
Theosophische
Schriften Auf Deutsch
Karma Fundamental Principles Laws: Natural and Man-Made
The Law of Laws
The Eternal Now
Succession
Causation
The Laws of Nature A Lesson of The Law Karma Does Not Crush
Apply This Law
Man in The Three Worlds Understand The Truth
Man and His Surroundings The Three Fates
The Pair of Triplets
Thought, The Builder Practical Meditation Will and Desire
The Mastery of Desire Two Other Points The Third Thread
Perfect Justice
Our Environment
Our Kith and Kin Our Nation
The Light for a Good Man Knowledge of Law The Opposing Schools
The More Modern View Self-Examination Out of the Past
Old Friendships
We Grow By Giving Collective Karma Family Karma
National Karma India’s Karma National
Disasters
Annotated Edition Published
1885
Preface to the Annotated Edition Preface to the Original Edition
Esoteric Teachers The Constitution of Man The Planetary Chain
The World Periods Devachan
Kama Loca
The Human Tide-Wave The Progress of Humanity
Buddha Nirvana The Universe
The Doctrine Reviewed
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